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It's Psychedelic Baby Magazine

It's Psychedelic Baby is an independent, music magazine. We are covering alternative, underground, non-commercial and non-mainstream artists in variety of shapes and genres. Exclusive interviews, reviews and articles. A place where musicians can express themselves. We serve an international readership.

Black Bombaim interview with Tojo

Interview:

1. Thank you very much for agreeing to do this interview guys! Black Bombaim is absolutely amazing heavy psych/stoner band from Portugal. I would like to know how and when did you guys get together and started the band and what are some of your influences?

Thank you! We got the band together when we were pretty young. Me and Ricardo (guitar) have known each other since we were 4 years old, and we grew up together, basically listening to the same music, and sharing interests. Probably Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin got us going at first, but then we started to explore under the radar bands from the 70's, like Captain Beyond or Sir Lord Baltimore, which have killer tunes. Kyuss was definitely a big influence, as were a lot of more modern psych acts, Earthless being at the top.

In Barcelos, our hometown in Portugal, there have always been a lot of bands, and maybe because of the boredom of those teen years, we thought we could have a band too. We played with a few people for fun, but when we met Senra (drums), things got serious and we started to rehearse songs and made a structure out of those jams. We never thought we would go out and play live, we were just having fun.

2. Why the name Black Bombaim?

Well, the first time we got a booked gig, at an old bar (which later got closed due to intense drug trafficking at the premises), we didn't have a name. We had to get a name to do the posters so our friends could come see us play... and we suck at names. But there was this Mão Morta song (a very good cult portuguese band) that talked about a guy's adventure in Amsterdam, strolling around the Red Light District, catching sex shows and smoking hash. In the song he refers to Black Bombaim as the hash he was smoking, which is supposed to be mixed with opium or something. It seemed rad at the time.

3. Were you in any other bands before forming?

I played bass for like a year in a band called Indignu, before Black Bombaim got serious and started to play more often shows. Ricardo and Senra also play in this garage rock n' roll band called ALTO!. Check 'em out here: http://alto1.bandcamp.com/

4. In 2009 you released your first EP. I want to know how did you record it and if you can share a few words about this release.

We recorded the EP early 2008 (it always takes us about a year to release the stuff we record) and we were recently down to a three piece, as one guitarist left the band. We made the songs planning on 2 guitars, and then we had to arrange them for one guitar only. We spent about a week in the study, most of the time getting hammered. Strange thing was when it was released, we were already playing most of the stuff from "SAST", so we never thought it really like a example of our sound, but much more like a promoting tool, and a way to get some(not really many) Euros.

5. Then the album came out. It is called Saturdays and Space Travels and it's absolutely mind blowing. Impressive jams with fuzzy guitars, groovy bass and insane drumming, with a great psychedelic atmosphere. I just love it! What can you tell me about this release?

Well, after we got comfortable as a trio, we started to connect our songs and playing it like one song only, with more psychedelic elements than the EP, but never forgetting the "heaviness" factor. We are all vinyl lovers and the idea was always releasing this as a 12'' record. So we went to the studio and recorded it live (except for a guitar track doing some crazy delay shit on side A), and wanted the meanest, baddest, dirty ugly sound on it. It's cool how people appreciate the record even more when the volume is way up high. That's an achievement for us!

6. How is touring going for you? Are you satisfied with it? Share an interesting experience you had from concerts...

One of the best experiences when in a band is playing live, and it's where we feel more comfortable. We've been all over Portugal many times and had nice shows in Spain aswell but one of the most gratifying experiences was definitely heading over to the UK for a few shows with the Notorious Hi-Fi Killers was one of the best. Also, sharing the stage with some of our favorite bands like Karma to Burn, White Hills, Radio Moscow and Kyuss Lives was amazing.

7. How about some future plans for the band?

Right now we're focused on recording our sophomore LP, which will be a little different from our debut. It's a double 12'' which will feature various guests we admire and met throughout this years, Isaiah Mitchell from Earthless being one of them. We're planning on releasing it early 2012, and tour all over!

8. I hope you come to Slovenia( It would be very groovy to see you on avenue for alternative culture called Metelkova in Ljubljana).

It would be awesome! I have heard of Metelkova from a friend actually. Seems like a really cool place! We expect to be all around when we release our next record.

9. What is your opinion about psychedelic scene these days?

I think it's really great. Everyday I hear of exciting new bands just sprouting everywhere and they're really amazing. Everybody's doing their own thing, a lot of diversity out there and a huge love for psychedelia.

10. Thank you very much for your time and effort. Do you have anything else to say about the band or yourself, that I didn't ask?

Just like to thank the opportunity and we expect to be all over Europe next year supporting our record, so see you there!

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Psychedelic Folk issue available

Dedicated to British psychedelic folk. New issue of printed version projected from the well-known, leading psych on-line site It’s Psychedelic Baby. After the previous issue covering exclusively the US psychedelic folk scene (IPB 002, 2016), this new issue covers the 1960s and 1970s British folk scene, with exclusive interviews of members from acts such as Fresh Maggots, Comus, Mellow Candle, Dr Strangely Strange, Spirogyra, C.O.B., Incredible String Band, Fairport Convention, Pererin, Courtyard Music Group, Magic Carpet, Sunforest, Oberon, etc. Also includes a few pages of record reviews. Cover by Justin Jackley.